Yes, I know, another of roscoes semi-communist tree-hugging quotes. Enjoy. This one comes (again) from Paul Hawken's The Ecology of Commerce.
"It's time we stop pretending that industries which degrade and poison are economic or useful. The present vision that informs 'economic' activity is so grossly misinformed and out of touch with ecological reality that Lawrence Summers, the chief economis of the WOrld Bank, can issue a now widely publicized memo calling the low pollution in African countries uneconomic: 'Underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly underpolluted, their air quality is probably vastly ineffeciently low [in pollutants] compared to Los Angeles or Mexico City.'"
Emphasis is mine.
Underpolluted?
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Dear Troubled...
The trite answer would be, "You're not leading them on their faith journeys, GOD is."
Which is, of course, only somewhat true.
One of the things I appreciate about your "style" of ministry is your openness in expressing your own opinion, and your openness in questioning traditional viewpoints. If you're wrong in spite of your genuine search who can blame you? Who in your youth has meditated and searched more diligently than you? I suppose its possible that God expects us to ignore our intellectual drive to question and to find out more and more truth (that is, perhaps he would prefer we merely swallow whole what generations before us have swallowed whole). In that case your thoughtful guidance might be a dis-service to students.
Something tells me that's not the case, however. That your pursuit of God and truth is as precious as God's pursuit of you.
Which is, of course, only somewhat true.
One of the things I appreciate about your "style" of ministry is your openness in expressing your own opinion, and your openness in questioning traditional viewpoints. If you're wrong in spite of your genuine search who can blame you? Who in your youth has meditated and searched more diligently than you? I suppose its possible that God expects us to ignore our intellectual drive to question and to find out more and more truth (that is, perhaps he would prefer we merely swallow whole what generations before us have swallowed whole). In that case your thoughtful guidance might be a dis-service to students.
Something tells me that's not the case, however. That your pursuit of God and truth is as precious as God's pursuit of you.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Troubled Spirit
So, tonight for Sr. Youth we had a discussion night. We have these every few months, and I really enjoy them. They are some of my favourite times with the whole group. It is a chance for the kids to share anything about life, faith, prayer requests, their faith journies, ask questions, etc. Tonight was no exception - some very meaningful things shared and some great discussion.
But I came away very troubled also. Some very deep and intense questions were asked (which often happens). My approach is to let the kids talk things out, and if asked or if needed to put my own two cents in. But I found myself talking more than I wanted to tonight. And I'm struggling if I did the right thing or not.
Tonight's questions surrounded some of the usual topics, but they had a more personal ring, and much more intensity to them. Questions like: "What do I do if I'm just having my devotions to have them, and they've recently become very dry and it's a chore to do it?" "I have a Muslim friend who is very sincere in his faith and is a great person, and I'm struggling with what will happen to both of us when we die?"
None of these are knew to our discussion time, but it was somehow different. Some of the youth shared much more freely of their own beliefs. And there is a wide range - from those that hold very tightly and traditionally to Jesus' statement: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." And those that believe that Jesus showed that God is love, and any life based on love has a part in his kingdom. And I try to balance things, play devils advocate, and all the rest. And I ended up sharing more of my own personal beliefs in these matters than I ever have. This is what I am really struggling with.
Should I have? Were they all ready for it? Will some of them understand it in a wrong light? Will it mislead them? Just because I am at a certain point in my thinking should I try to lead everyone there? I don't believe that I should, but I feel like I was pushed into doing that. I had to say something. And I don't even know if I'm right.
What really scares me is this verse from James 3:1 - "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, know that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment." What if I don't know anything and I'm leading them all astray? I know this sounds like an exaggeration, but it really does concern me sometimes. I try so hard to always go back to the Bible and speak from it, but what if I'm miss-interpreting it, or just making it say what I want it to? I come to these questions with so many biases, how do I sort through them all and just teach the truth? I sure hope God takes my best intentions, and that these kids miraculously filter out all my crap.
Sometimes the huge responsibility that I have becomes too much. How do you lead someone in a "faith journey"?
But I came away very troubled also. Some very deep and intense questions were asked (which often happens). My approach is to let the kids talk things out, and if asked or if needed to put my own two cents in. But I found myself talking more than I wanted to tonight. And I'm struggling if I did the right thing or not.
Tonight's questions surrounded some of the usual topics, but they had a more personal ring, and much more intensity to them. Questions like: "What do I do if I'm just having my devotions to have them, and they've recently become very dry and it's a chore to do it?" "I have a Muslim friend who is very sincere in his faith and is a great person, and I'm struggling with what will happen to both of us when we die?"
None of these are knew to our discussion time, but it was somehow different. Some of the youth shared much more freely of their own beliefs. And there is a wide range - from those that hold very tightly and traditionally to Jesus' statement: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." And those that believe that Jesus showed that God is love, and any life based on love has a part in his kingdom. And I try to balance things, play devils advocate, and all the rest. And I ended up sharing more of my own personal beliefs in these matters than I ever have. This is what I am really struggling with.
Should I have? Were they all ready for it? Will some of them understand it in a wrong light? Will it mislead them? Just because I am at a certain point in my thinking should I try to lead everyone there? I don't believe that I should, but I feel like I was pushed into doing that. I had to say something. And I don't even know if I'm right.
What really scares me is this verse from James 3:1 - "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, know that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment." What if I don't know anything and I'm leading them all astray? I know this sounds like an exaggeration, but it really does concern me sometimes. I try so hard to always go back to the Bible and speak from it, but what if I'm miss-interpreting it, or just making it say what I want it to? I come to these questions with so many biases, how do I sort through them all and just teach the truth? I sure hope God takes my best intentions, and that these kids miraculously filter out all my crap.
Sometimes the huge responsibility that I have becomes too much. How do you lead someone in a "faith journey"?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
On Cynicism
Sometimes I lie awake in bed, unable to sleep becasue I am scared that I am too cynical.
So the student leading devotions today asked the class whether it was a sin to NOT want to die because of the things and people you'll leave behind.
That is, given then choice between dying a martyr's death, or remaining alive and in relationships, is choosing "alive" a sin?
Not surprisingly, we talked a bit about martyrs. One student mentioned the story about the CHristian husband who allowed a soldier to bury his wife and young child alive rather than renounce his faith. THis story is often used in sermons to glorify the martyrs death.
I had to admit to my class that I couldn't imagine anything that would motivate me to make the decision this soldier made. Maybe physical torture.
The story of Abrahams near-sacrifice of his son also came up.
Just got called to the conference room. THe short of the story is that the students were a little astounded that I would take a side not usually taken by preachers by saying the right thing to do MIGHT be to stay alive and in relationship with family.
Gotta go.
Josh
That is, given then choice between dying a martyr's death, or remaining alive and in relationships, is choosing "alive" a sin?
Not surprisingly, we talked a bit about martyrs. One student mentioned the story about the CHristian husband who allowed a soldier to bury his wife and young child alive rather than renounce his faith. THis story is often used in sermons to glorify the martyrs death.
I had to admit to my class that I couldn't imagine anything that would motivate me to make the decision this soldier made. Maybe physical torture.
The story of Abrahams near-sacrifice of his son also came up.
Just got called to the conference room. THe short of the story is that the students were a little astounded that I would take a side not usually taken by preachers by saying the right thing to do MIGHT be to stay alive and in relationship with family.
Gotta go.
Josh
Monday, April 17, 2006
Easter Monday
What a great weekend we had. Its was nice to be at the farm. The weather was so incredible. It was truly an 'awakining'. Micah loved to just hang around with 'her boys'. I wish I was home now, just a day to relax and catch up on laundry, hang out and eat soup. Days like today always make me want to eat soup. Doesn't matter what kind of soup, anything will do.
Currently I am reading The Da Vinci Code. I can't seam to put the book down. I know I'm a bit late in reading it as I'm sure Kev and I are the last ones in North America to read it but it finally came out in paper back. I'm relay enjoying it. I don't know what the hubbub is all about in Christian circles, the book is FICTION!. As the book its self repeatedly states " every one loves a conspiracy"
At this very moment I'm waiting for said Client as indicated below to come and sign her renewal papers. Should be an interesting meeting. What a great way to kick off the week!!!
Kevin' Girl
Currently I am reading The Da Vinci Code. I can't seam to put the book down. I know I'm a bit late in reading it as I'm sure Kev and I are the last ones in North America to read it but it finally came out in paper back. I'm relay enjoying it. I don't know what the hubbub is all about in Christian circles, the book is FICTION!. As the book its self repeatedly states " every one loves a conspiracy"
At this very moment I'm waiting for said Client as indicated below to come and sign her renewal papers. Should be an interesting meeting. What a great way to kick off the week!!!
Kevin' Girl
Monday, April 10, 2006
AHHH Monday.....
So my first call at 8:43 this am was from a client who apparently had been stewing all weekend and as such has a very large bone to pick with cibc. Long story short, I'm still dealing with her now and I've had to use my "don't you talk to me like that" tone, use big words (I do that when I'm realy mad, how come my vocabulary increases as my anger level rises? hummm....) and in not so many words tell the client that she is acting like a bitch. Yup, all in a days work. Between that first call and now I have also had the pleasure of dealing with three other pissed off clients - may I also just add that none of the issues where caused by me or were a result of my actions or in some cases non actions. I am also putting off calling a fourth client to decline him on for a loan. That one isn't either of our faults, just the policy of CIBC around debt consolidation loans. I wish I could say that this is why they pay me the big bucks, but I'm still waiting for them to show up in the bank account......
Sunday, April 02, 2006
A Slice of My Life
I found this word to be remarkable. Did you know it existed?
defenestrate \dee-FEN-uh-strayt\, transitive verb:
To throw out of a window.
Defenestrate is derived from Latin de-, "out of" + fenestra,
"window." The noun form is defenestration.
Some of his apparent chums . . . would still happily
defenestrate him if they caught him near a window.
-- Andrew Marr, "No option bar the radical one,"
[1]Independent, July 5, 1994
I defenestrated a clock to see if time flies!
-- Lane Smith, "quoted in Who's News," [2]Time for Kids,
September 25, 1998
N
defenestrate \dee-FEN-uh-strayt\, transitive verb:
To throw out of a window.
Defenestrate is derived from Latin de-, "out of" + fenestra,
"window." The noun form is defenestration.
Some of his apparent chums . . . would still happily
defenestrate him if they caught him near a window.
-- Andrew Marr, "No option bar the radical one,"
[1]Independent, July 5, 1994
I defenestrated a clock to see if time flies!
-- Lane Smith, "quoted in Who's News," [2]Time for Kids,
September 25, 1998
N
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